| Before you start socializing a dog that has been | | | | Practice walking in a public place at least ten or |
| neglected or abused, you need to have a good | | | | twelve more times before you move up to the |
| understanding of pack leadership and have | | | | next level. When you can easily walk around the |
| completed at least one month of the basic training | | | | public area and your dog never jerks on the leash, |
| lessons. When you feel that you have good | | | | tries to follow another dog or person, and |
| control over your dog, and that he is respecting | | | | appears to be relaxed and comfortable following |
| your position as pack leader you are ready to | | | | you then you are probably ready to move up to |
| move up to reintroducing the dog into society. | | | | the next step. |
| Reintroducing a Poorly Socialized Dog to Society | | | | If you're working towards human socializing, start |
| Dogs love to play, but what we sometimes don't | | | | having family meet you at the park. If it's canine |
| understand is that they NEED to play. Any dog | | | | socializing, have them bring their dog. |
| that is kept isolated from canine or human | | | | You are the pack leader, so you must be the one |
| companionship, which never enjoys a game of | | | | to decide if a strange human or dog will be |
| toss the all or tug the bone, or experiences the | | | | accepted by the pack. This means your dog is |
| joy of a playful relationship with its owners, will be | | | | not allowed to growl, bark, or in any way act |
| an unhappy dog. | | | | aggressive towards anyone or any other dog. |
| This unhappiness will manifest itself in behavioral | | | | When you're ready, leash both dogs and start |
| problems. For instance, excessive barking or | | | | your walk around the park. Start with some |
| aggression is a sign of boredom and discontent. | | | | distance between the dogs by walking together in |
| Therefore, interaction with others is crucial. | | | | the same direction and keeping one of the |
| So you, without even realizing it, are part of a | | | | humans between them at all times. |
| centuries old wolf pack social structure. In these | | | | At first they'll both keep looking at each other |
| deceptively ordinary moments - when for | | | | and trying to cross around the humans to reach |
| example, you play hide and seek with your dog - | | | | the other dog. Just continue walking firmly |
| you accommodate your dog's innate drive to | | | | forward and snapping them back into position until |
| socialize. It is through such games that you and | | | | they remember their training and start paying |
| your dog truly bond. | | | | more attention to you then the other dog. |
| If you never intended to ever introduce your dog | | | | The reason it helps to have the person as a |
| to another person or dog, then simply making | | | | friend is because dialog between the two humans |
| sure that you gave your dog lots of one on one | | | | helps the dogs understand that you are both pack |
| play time every day would be enough to keep | | | | leaders with a greater status level then they |
| him healthy and happy for the rest of his life. | | | | have, so they must relax and simply be good |
| Most people, however, want a companion animal | | | | companions as you instruct them to. |
| that they can introduce to family and friends, as | | | | Walk your dogs this way for half a dozen times, |
| well as take jogging, out to the park, or other | | | | talking, laughing and making lots of noise |
| social environments. If the dog isn't socialized | | | | communicating with each other while maintaining a |
| properly however, these kinds of interactions with | | | | relaxed control over the dogs. They must remain |
| the rest of the world may not go as smoothly as | | | | calm and obedient even if you are belly laughing, |
| the dog owner thought they should. | | | | crying or in a loud debate. |
| Taking a poorly socialized or aggressive dog out | | | | Try to end each walk on a good note with both |
| into society may quickly become a nightmare of | | | | dogs feeling relaxed and happy. |
| barking, lunging, growling and just general bad | | | | It really helps if you know several friends that can |
| behavior. It might be directed towards other dogs | | | | rotate walking different dogs with your dog. You |
| or it might be directed towards strange people, | | | | don't want your dog to become accustomed to |
| either way it will eventually become such a | | | | just one dog, you want him to be relaxed around |
| nightmare that the dog's owner no longer wants | | | | all dogs. |
| to try anymore. | | | | After you've practiced walking together half a |
| Start socializing and training your dog early and | | | | dozen times, meet up at the park again, but this |
| you can avoid the difficult challenge of re-training | | | | time after you've walked for a minute or two |
| an aggressive dog later! | | | | and the dogs are walking without distraction, |
| Before you start working on training your dog in | | | | abruptly stop and step close enough together that |
| a social environment, you need to make sure that | | | | the dogs can sniff noses. |
| you have control of your dog in your own home. | | | | A well socialized dog will sniff anther dog's nose |
| Start working on your Basic Training lessons and | | | | and then turn to look at his master as if to ask |
| be very consistent in it. When you feel that your | | | | why the walk ended so soon. A dog with lesser |
| dog is no longer challenging your leadership then | | | | social skills will be more focused, trying to sniff |
| you may be ready to start working away from | | | | the other dog all over as if trying to determine by |
| home. | | | | scent and stature who's going to be the boss. A |
| Using your training collar, and a good leash, load | | | | dog with very poor skills will raise his tail up, |
| your dog into the car and head to a park or | | | | stiffen his legs and may growl or even snap at |
| other place where you know for a fact that you | | | | the other dog. |
| are very unlikely to meet dogs that are not | | | | If the aggressive dog's tail comes up above the |
| leashed. You absolutely must have control over | | | | level of his spine then pull him sharply back with a |
| the situation, and you can't control it if the other | | | | firm "BAH" and continue your walk without |
| dog is not leashed. | | | | reintroducing the dogs again that day. If both |
| Just as you did in Basic Training, put your dog in | | | | dogs appear to be maintaining their calm and |
| the 'heel' position and start out for your walk in | | | | relaxed demeanor then it's okay to stand and talk |
| plain view of the other dogs. | | | | while they interact for a few minutes, then |
| Make sure that you are in a calm and controlled | | | | continue the walk on that good note. |
| state of mind. You want to feel confident and yet | | | | Keep practicing the introductions once or twice |
| relaxed, totally in control of the situation, and | | | | each day until the aggressive dog learns that he is |
| radiating your calm confidence to your dog. | | | | not in control of the situation, you are. You don't |
| Do not allow your dog to be distracted by the | | | | want to overwhelm the dog, especially if it's an |
| other dogs or people, the same as if you were | | | | older rescue that has potentially had bad |
| walking down the street by your home. | | | | experiences with other dogs. You need to take it |
| If his head and tail abruptly jerk upwards towards | | | | slow so he doesn't feel pressured. |
| another dog or other distraction, immediately | | | | When you have introduced your dog to half a |
| correct him and snap him back into position. He | | | | dozen other dogs and he has responded well to all |
| should be paying attention to you and watching | | | | of them, then you can move up to meeting |
| you for cues, not watching other dogs. | | | | multiple dogs at a time and eventually to off leash |
| If someone tries to walk their dog up to you or | | | | parks. |
| tries to pet your dog, ask them to please stay | | | | Puppies will obviously go through these steps very |
| away from him, he's training right now. Most | | | | easily, but it's a very important for older dogs |
| people will understand and respect your wishes. | | | | that have not been socialized properly to take |
| Walk around the park or area once the first time | | | | these steps at a pace that benefits them. |
| you're out, or until the dog is walking past other | | | | Particularly rescue dogs that have spent years |
| dogs and distractions without taking a second | | | | chained or kenneled without good human or |
| look. You want to try to end the training session | | | | canine interaction. |
| on a positive note. | | | | The important thing is to always maintain control |
| Reward him when you load him back in the car | | | | of the situation and be a good pack leader for |
| with a special treat you brought from home, | | | | your dog. |
| maybe a favorite snack or toy. | | | | |